Cartridge.



I. K. YOUNG 8: J. E SHERIFF. CARTRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-19, 1902.

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rm: NORRIS PETERS 641-. WASHINGTON, 0. c4

PATENTED SEPT. 18', 1906.

. movement of the plunger.

UNITED srarns PATENT OFFICE.

MASSACHUSETTS, AND JAMES E. ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN AUTO- MATIC ARMS COMPANY, OF SAOO, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CARTRIDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed November 19, 1902. Serial No. 131,941.

accompanying drawings.

1 0 n I i The ob ect of the invention is to produce a cartridge which is especially adapted for use l 1n an automatic gun in which the rearward i movement of the firing-pin after the eXplol I sion operates the breech mechanism; but a cartridge constructed according to this invention is adapted for use with any automatic gun to give rearward movement to the firing-pin, and it is not intended herein to be restricted to use with any particular construction of gun.

In the cartridge shown in Patent No. 624,146, granted to said Young, dated May 2, 1899, the rearward movement of the firingpin is produced by a piston fitted into the rear end of the shell and having a plunger which extends through the shell, the primer being placed between the plunger and the projectile and exploded by the forward In the present invention the primer is in form of a cap placed in a recess in the perforated base of the shell, within which it has a sliding movement axially, the anvil being located in the bottom of the recess. The forward movement of the firing-pin drives the primer forward against the anvil, and the pressure of the gases generated by the explosion will carry the primer rearwardly and drive back the firing-pin.

The invention will now be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in central longitudinal section and partly in elevation, of a cartridge embodying the invention, showing the cartridge before firing and showing the position of the firing-pin.

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the primer 1 in the forward position upon the anvil, where it has been driven by the firing-pm, and

while igniting the powder charge. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the primer driven rearwardly after the explosion, the projectile having been discharged.

Fig. 4 is a rear end view of the cartridge. Flg. 5 is a section on hne 5 5 of Fig. 3.

The shell 1 is a hollow cylinder open and contracted at one end to receive the projectile 2 and having a perforated base or head 3, which closes the rear end, except for the perforations 4. The shell between the head and the projectile is filled with the charge of powder 5 or other explosive material. The head 3 is formed with a central longitudinal recess 6, in the inner end of which is the anvil 7, which projects rearwardly from the bottom of the recess. The wall which forms the bottom of the recess and base of the anvil is provided with perforations 4, which lead from the interior of the shell into the recess 6 and through which the gases may pass after the explosion. Fitted into the rear end of said recess 6 is the primer 8, which is in the form of a cap or disk movable in an axial direction in said recess and having a fulminate 9 on its inner face. The primer is so fitted into the recess 6 that before being struck by the firing-pin 10 it will retain its position away from contact with the anvil, the recess being deep enough so that there will be a space between the fulminate 9 and the head of the anvil.

When the firing-pin 10 of the gun moves forward, it will drive the primer forward, causing the fulminate 9 to strike the head of the anvil 7 with sufficient force to explode and cause the ignition of the explosive charge 5. The gases generated by the ignition of the explosive charge 5 will in part p ass back through the perforations 4, and the pressure of the gases will drive the primer backward, and thereby carry back the firing-pin to actuate the breech mechanism or for whatever other purpose it may be desired to retract the firing-pin.

One object of having the intervening space 6 between the anvil 7 and the primer is to permit rearward movement of the primer within the recess after the explosion without having the primer protrude out of the shell beyond the end of the head-3 and without driving the firing-pin rearward farther than flush with the end of the bolt. The intervening spacebetween the anvil and primer permits the entrance of the firing-pin into the cartridge-case before detonation of the primer is effected. It permits rearward movement of the firing-pin without the primer being ejected from the cartridge case. It leaves the primer after detonation and after having expelled the firing-pin flush with the rear end of the cartridge-case. Its further object is to avoid the loss of power by enlargement of the powder-space in the cartridgewhich ensues when the primer is detonated on the anvil if both primer and anvil are flush with the face of the cartridge-case.

What we claim is 1. A cartridge having a case with a base formed with a piston-chamber recess in the outer end thereof, an anvil forming the bottom of said recess, a piston-primer fitted in the outer end of said recess and held therein, and which before firing extends only part way to the inner end of said recess with a space between the primer andanvil, said piston-primer being driven forward in said recess under impact of the firing-pin and driven rearward by the explosion, thereby driving 1 the firing-pin rearward, the firing-pin limiting the rearward movement of the pistonprimer and preventing it from being forced out of the case.

2. A cartridge having a case with a base formed with a piston-chamber recess in the outer end thereof, an anvil forming the bot tom of said recess, a cup-shaped pistonprimer fitted in the outer end of said recess and held therein with its outer end flush with the rear end of the base, the inner end of the primer extending only part way to the inner end of the recess and being provided with a fulminate which is not in contact with the anvil until the primer is driven inward, said primer being movable inwardly in said recess under impact of the firing-pin to bring it into contact with the anvil and movable rearwardly in the recess under the force of the explosion to drive the firing-pin rearwardly, said primer bein at all times inside of said recess.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures each in presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN K. YOUNG. JAMES E. SHERIFF.

Witnesses to signature of Franklin K.

Young:

WILLIAM A. COPELAND, ROBERT WALLACE.

Witnesses to signature of James E. Sheriff: I

SAM HAUBT, FREDERICK R. MESEROLE. 

